Sterling HS pickup switching question

[ric426]

I got an '08 sterling HS a week ago and I think it's the best EBMM bass I've had. It's my first HS bass though and I have a question.
I've noticed that in the two switch positions that have the phantom coil in the circuit (#2, coil 1+phantom and #5, coil 3+phantom) the signal level drops noticeably. Those are the only positions that have a single active coil, so it may just be the way it works, but position 2 sounds pretty tinny too, to the point that I'd probably not use it. Is this just the way it is with the HS switching? I just want to make sure something's not out of whack.

 

[Bart B]

It's normal, if it sounds too thin, you can use the eq to beef it up

 

[keko]

It's normal, if it sounds too thin, you can use the eq to beef it up

Absolutely, that's the way it is, 'cause when single coil work with hum canceling phantom coil together, it just "acting" humbacker wiring, but in real electronic condition level is lower due to a phantom coil only cancel the hum (noise) and not increase the signal like two real coils together!

You should use wise preamp section when in multi coil mode and not boost it too much, so You could boost it in single coil mode!

Anyway, I'm not going over 30% boost when in multi coil mode (positions 1, 3 and 4, counting from the bridge side), but in single coil switch positions (2 and 5) boost it to 80-100%!

Also play harder with right hand fingers in single coil mode too!

Hope it helps!

(I wouldn't change my bridge single coil switch position 2 for nothing! Use it more and more...)

 

[phatduckk]

you will get volume drops. there's a bunch of ways to even things out. personally, i never switch settings mid song so i just tweak the EQ on the bass' preamp & bump the lows and mids a bit when i use positions 2 or 5 (single coils solo'ed).

another approach, the one Sterling recommends, is to not run the bass at full volume. at "steady state" he suggests leaving the bass' volume at 7 or so and that gives you the room to add more volume as you see fit.

so one of those suggestions is the way to go. it'll become second nature

 

[ric426]

Cool, thanks for all the info. Glad to know it's behaving normally.